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Peter Polčic

Bio: Peter Polčic is an academic researcher from Comenius University in Bratislava. The author has contributed to research in topics: Mitochondrion & Bcl-2 family. The author has an hindex of 12, co-authored 23 publications receiving 5379 citations. Previous affiliations of Peter Polčic include Oregon Health & Science University.

Papers
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Journal ArticleDOI
Daniel J. Klionsky1, Kotb Abdelmohsen2, Akihisa Abe3, Joynal Abedin4  +2519 moreInstitutions (695)
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present a set of guidelines for the selection and interpretation of methods for use by investigators who aim to examine macro-autophagy and related processes, as well as for reviewers who need to provide realistic and reasonable critiques of papers that are focused on these processes.
Abstract: In 2008 we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, research on this topic has continued to accelerate, and many new scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base and relevant new technologies have also been expanding. Accordingly, it is important to update these guidelines for monitoring autophagy in different organisms. Various reviews have described the range of assays that have been used for this purpose. Nevertheless, there continues to be confusion regarding acceptable methods to measure autophagy, especially in multicellular eukaryotes. For example, a key point that needs to be emphasized is that there is a difference between measurements that monitor the numbers or volume of autophagic elements (e.g., autophagosomes or autolysosomes) at any stage of the autophagic process versus those that measure flux through the autophagy pathway (i.e., the complete process including the amount and rate of cargo sequestered and degraded). In particular, a block in macroautophagy that results in autophagosome accumulation must be differentiated from stimuli that increase autophagic activity, defined as increased autophagy induction coupled with increased delivery to, and degradation within, lysosomes (in most higher eukaryotes and some protists such as Dictyostelium) or the vacuole (in plants and fungi). In other words, it is especially important that investigators new to the field understand that the appearance of more autophagosomes does not necessarily equate with more autophagy. In fact, in many cases, autophagosomes accumulate because of a block in trafficking to lysosomes without a concomitant change in autophagosome biogenesis, whereas an increase in autolysosomes may reflect a reduction in degradative activity. It is worth emphasizing here that lysosomal digestion is a stage of autophagy and evaluating its competence is a crucial part of the evaluation of autophagic flux, or complete autophagy. Here, we present a set of guidelines for the selection and interpretation of methods for use by investigators who aim to examine macroautophagy and related processes, as well as for reviewers who need to provide realistic and reasonable critiques of papers that are focused on these processes. These guidelines are not meant to be a formulaic set of rules, because the appropriate assays depend in part on the question being asked and the system being used. In addition, we emphasize that no individual assay is guaranteed to be the most appropriate one in every situation, and we strongly recommend the use of multiple assays to monitor autophagy. Along these lines, because of the potential for pleiotropic effects due to blocking autophagy through genetic manipulation, it is imperative to target by gene knockout or RNA interference more than one autophagy-related protein. In addition, some individual Atg proteins, or groups of proteins, are involved in other cellular pathways implying that not all Atg proteins can be used as a specific marker for an autophagic process. In these guidelines, we consider these various methods of assessing autophagy and what information can, or cannot, be obtained from them. Finally, by discussing the merits and limits of particular assays, we hope to encourage technical innovation in the field.

5,187 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
Didac Carmona-Gutierrez1, Maria A. Bauer1, Andreas Zimmermann1, Andrés Aguilera2, Nicanor Austriaco3, Kathryn R. Ayscough4, Rena Balzan5, Shoshana Bar-Nun6, Antonio Barrientos7, Peter Belenky8, Marc Blondel9, Ralf J. Braun10, Michael Breitenbach10, William Wc Burhans11, Sabrina Büttner1, Sabrina Büttner12, Duccio Cavalieri13, Michael Chang14, Katrina Kf Cooper15, Manuela Côrte-Real16, Vítor Costa17, Vítor Costa18, Christophe Cullin19, Ian W. Dawes20, Jörn Dengjel21, Martin Mb Dickman22, Tobias Eisenberg1, Birthe Fahrenkrog23, Nicolas Fasel24, Kai-Uwe Fröhlich1, Ali Gargouri, Sergio Giannattasio25, Paola Goffrini26, Campbell W. Gourlay27, Chris M. Grant28, Michael Mt Greenwood29, Nicoletta Guaragnella25, Thomas Heger, Jürgen J. Heinisch30, Eva Herker31, Johannes M. Herrmann32, Sebastian J. Hofer1, Antonio Jiménez-Ruiz33, Helmut Jungwirth1, Katharina Kainz1, Dimitrios P. Kontoyiannis34, Paula Ludovico16, Paula Ludovico35, Stéphen Manon19, Enzo Martegani36, Cristina Mazzoni37, Lynn La Megeney38, Lynn La Megeney39, Christa Meisinger40, Jens Nielsen41, Jens Nielsen42, Thomas Nyström43, Heinz Hd Osiewacz44, Tiago Tf Outeiro, Hay-Oak Park45, Tobias Pendl1, Dina Petranovic42, Stéphane Picot46, Peter Polčic47, Ted Powers48, Mark Ramsdale49, Mark Rinnerthaler50, Patrick Rockenfeller1, Patrick Rockenfeller27, Christoph Ruckenstuhl1, Raffael Schaffrath51, María Segovia52, Fedor Ff Severin53, Amir Sharon6, Stephan J. Sigrist54, Cornelia Sommer-Ruck1, Maria João Sousa16, Johan Jm Thevelein55, Karin Thevissen55, Vladimir I. Titorenko56, Michel Mb Toledano57, Mick F. Tuite27, F-Nora Vögtle40, Benedikt Westermann10, Joris Winderickx55, Silke Wissing, Stefan Wölfl58, Zhaojie J Zhang59, Richard Y. Zhao60, Bing Zhou61, Lorenzo Galluzzi62, Lorenzo Galluzzi63, Guido Kroemer, Frank Madeo1 
University of Graz1, Spanish National Research Council2, Providence College3, University of Sheffield4, University of Malta5, Tel Aviv University6, University of Miami7, Brown University8, French Institute of Health and Medical Research9, University of Bayreuth10, Roswell Park Cancer Institute11, Stockholm University12, University of Florence13, University Medical Center Groningen14, Rowan University15, University of Minho16, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular17, University of Porto18, University of Bordeaux19, University of New South Wales20, University of Fribourg21, Texas A&M University22, Université libre de Bruxelles23, University of Lausanne24, National Research Council25, University of Parma26, University of Kent27, University of Manchester28, Royal Military College of Canada29, University of Osnabrück30, Heinrich Pette Institute31, Kaiserslautern University of Technology32, University of Alcalá33, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center34, RMIT University35, University of Milano-Bicocca36, Sapienza University of Rome37, University of Ottawa38, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute39, University of Freiburg40, Technical University of Denmark41, Chalmers University of Technology42, University of Gothenburg43, Goethe University Frankfurt44, Ohio State University45, Centre national de la recherche scientifique46, Comenius University in Bratislava47, University of Minnesota48, University of Exeter49, University of Salzburg50, University of Kassel51, University of Málaga52, Moscow State University53, Free University of Berlin54, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven55, Concordia University56, Université Paris-Saclay57, Heidelberg University58, University of Wyoming59, University of Maryland, Baltimore60, Tsinghua University61, Cornell University62, Paris Descartes University63
TL;DR: Unified criteria for the definition of accidental, regulated, and programmed forms of cell death in yeast based on a series of morphological and biochemical criteria are proposed.
Abstract: Elucidating the biology of yeast in its full complexity has major implications for science, medicine and industry. One of the most critical processes determining yeast life and physiology is cel-lular demise. However, the investigation of yeast cell death is a relatively young field, and a widely accepted set of concepts and terms is still missing. Here, we propose unified criteria for the defi-nition of accidental, regulated, and programmed forms of cell death in yeast based on a series of morphological and biochemical criteria. Specifically, we provide consensus guidelines on the differ-ential definition of terms including apoptosis, regulated necrosis, and autophagic cell death, as we refer to additional cell death rou-tines that are relevant for the biology of (at least some species of) yeast. As this area of investigation advances rapidly, changes and extensions to this set of recommendations will be implemented in the years to come. Nonetheless, we strongly encourage the au-thors, reviewers and editors of scientific articles to adopt these collective standards in order to establish an accurate framework for yeast cell death research and, ultimately, to accelerate the pro-gress of this vibrant field of research.

134 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Results obtained provide direct evidence that VDAC1 is a component of this mitochondrial pore, and a new class of inhibitors of the PTP and on the identification of their molecular target are reported.

114 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, three types of DC electrical discharges in atmospheric air (streamer corona, transient spark and glow discharge) were tested for bio-decontamination of bacteria and yeasts in water solution, and spores on surfaces.
Abstract: Three types of DC electrical discharges in atmospheric air (streamer corona, transient spark and glow discharge) were tested for bio-decontamination of bacteria and yeasts in water solution, and spores on surfaces. Static vs. flowing treatment of contaminated water were compared, in the latter the flowing water either covered the grounded electrode or passed through the high voltage needle electrode. The bacteria were killed most efficiently in the flowing regime by transient spark. Streamer corona was efficient when the treated medium flew through the active corona region. The spores on plastic foil and paper surfaces were successfully inactivated by negative corona. The microbes were handled and their population evaluated by standard microbiology cultivation procedures. The emission spectroscopy of the discharges and TBARS (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances) absorption spectrometric detection of the products of lipid peroxidation of bacterial cell membranes indicated a major role of radicals and reactive oxygen species among the bio-decontamination mechanisms.

60 citations


Cited by
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Lorenzo Galluzzi1, Lorenzo Galluzzi2, Ilio Vitale3, Stuart A. Aaronson4  +183 moreInstitutions (111)
TL;DR: The Nomenclature Committee on Cell Death (NCCD) has formulated guidelines for the definition and interpretation of cell death from morphological, biochemical, and functional perspectives.
Abstract: Over the past decade, the Nomenclature Committee on Cell Death (NCCD) has formulated guidelines for the definition and interpretation of cell death from morphological, biochemical, and functional perspectives. Since the field continues to expand and novel mechanisms that orchestrate multiple cell death pathways are unveiled, we propose an updated classification of cell death subroutines focusing on mechanistic and essential (as opposed to correlative and dispensable) aspects of the process. As we provide molecularly oriented definitions of terms including intrinsic apoptosis, extrinsic apoptosis, mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT)-driven necrosis, necroptosis, ferroptosis, pyroptosis, parthanatos, entotic cell death, NETotic cell death, lysosome-dependent cell death, autophagy-dependent cell death, immunogenic cell death, cellular senescence, and mitotic catastrophe, we discuss the utility of neologisms that refer to highly specialized instances of these processes. The mission of the NCCD is to provide a widely accepted nomenclature on cell death in support of the continued development of the field.

3,301 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A functional classification of cell death subroutines is proposed that applies to both in vitro and in vivo settings and includes extrinsic apoptosis, caspase-dependent or -independent intrinsic programmed cell death, regulated necrosis, autophagic cell death and mitotic catastrophe.
Abstract: In 2009, the Nomenclature Committee on Cell Death (NCCD) proposed a set of recommendations for the definition of distinct cell death morphologies and for the appropriate use of cell death-related terminology, including 'apoptosis', 'necrosis' and 'mitotic catastrophe'. In view of the substantial progress in the biochemical and genetic exploration of cell death, time has come to switch from morphological to molecular definitions of cell death modalities. Here we propose a functional classification of cell death subroutines that applies to both in vitro and in vivo settings and includes extrinsic apoptosis, caspase-dependent or -independent intrinsic apoptosis, regulated necrosis, autophagic cell death and mitotic catastrophe. Moreover, we discuss the utility of expressions indicating additional cell death modalities. On the basis of the new, revised NCCD classification, cell death subroutines are defined by a series of precise, measurable biochemical features.

2,238 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A way forward is suggested for the effective targeting of autophagy by understanding the context-dependent roles of autophile and by capitalizing on modern approaches to clinical trial design.
Abstract: Autophagy is a mechanism by which cellular material is delivered to lysosomes for degradation, leading to the basal turnover of cell components and providing energy and macromolecular precursors. Autophagy has opposing, context-dependent roles in cancer, and interventions to both stimulate and inhibit autophagy have been proposed as cancer therapies. This has led to the therapeutic targeting of autophagy in cancer to be sometimes viewed as controversial. In this Review, we suggest a way forwards for the effective targeting of autophagy by understanding the context-dependent roles of autophagy and by capitalizing on modern approaches to clinical trial design.

1,606 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Fission of mitochondria has been reported to participate in apoptosis in Drosophila and Caenorhabditis elegans, however, in these organisms, mitochondrial membrane permeabilization does not occur and the mechanism by which mitochondrial dynamics participates in cell death remains elusive.

1,204 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is shown that CQ mainly inhibits autophagy by impairing autophagosome fusion with lysosomes rather than by affecting the acidity and/or degradative activity of this organelle.
Abstract: Macroautophagy/autophagy is a conserved transport pathway where targeted structures are sequestered by phagophores, which mature into autophagosomes, and then delivered into lysosomes for degradati...

1,178 citations